Cablegate: February Gaerc: Finns Support Common Platform For

VZCZCXRO5853
RR RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHHE #0061 0431150
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121150Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4062
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 0043

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000061

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EUN FI
SUBJECT: FEBRUARY GAERC: FINNS SUPPORT COMMON PLATFORM FOR
RAPID RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE

REF: HELSINKI 56

Classified By: POLCHIEF GREG THOME FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

1. (U) PolChief delivered the Department's GAERC talking
points to Finnish European Correspondent Leena-Kaisa Mikkola
Feb. 12. Not surprisingly, Mikkola said that Kosovo will
dominate the ministers' agenda.

2. (C) The EU still hoped to establish a "common platform"
for member states' speedy recognition of an independent
Kosovo, Mikkola said; nationally, Finland will fully support
this initiative. Mikkola was optimistic that EU negotiators
could produce a common platform text, even in the potentially
very short interval that might be available between a Feb. 17
declaration of independence and the Feb. 18 start of the
GAERC. However, she was pessimistic about the possible
Cypriot reaction, noting that Cyprus remains "very
suspicious" of the common platform, "to the point that they
will probably block consensus" on anything but the most
watered down text.

3. (C) OMIK: Regarding OMIK, Mikkola (who had accompanied
FM/CiO Ilkka Kanerva to Pristina and Belgrade Feb. 5-6 -- see
reftel) said there is growing optimism that a restructured
OSCE Mission in Kosovo may be able to return in the months
following the independence declaration. She said that
Kanerva, in particular, was inclined to view some of Serb FM
Jeremic's comments as favorable toward such a return.
HYATT

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